Category: Photos

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GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

San Felipe Tejalapam to Santa Maria Peñoles

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If you are looking for a ride that will take you seriously out of the Oaxaca valley to a place where most of the inhabitants speak Mixteca, you might like this trek. The ride is entirely on a newly paved (in 2023) AMLO road that climbs steadily from San Felipe Tejalapam, going in a westerly direction up and over a ridge (high point 8027 feet at Recibimiento) and then dropping down to Santa Maria Peñoles. You are likely to encounter an equal number of pedestrians and vehicles along the way – which is to say, not many.

The total round trip distance is 31.0 miles (50.0 km), with an elevation gain and loss of 4335 feet (1321 meters). The highest point along the way is 8027 feet (2447 meters). It is a consistent uphill grind from San Felipe to where the road crosses over the ridgetop; then its downhill all the way to Santa Maria.

If you begin and end the ride at the Zocalo in Oaxaca city, the round trip distance jumps to 57.0 miles (91.7 km). Add another 7.0 miles (11.3 km) if your starting point is San Felipe del Agua.

The newly paved road to Peñoles winds up the mountainside going west from the Valley of Oaxaca.
The unrelenting climb goes for eight miles to Recibimiento – easy pedaling on an ebike.
A welcome sign, indeed, after climbing over 2400 feet (732 meters).

Foothills, GPS, Hiking, MTBing, Photos, Ride Routes

Tlalixtac – Lower Mil Rios Trail

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The small village of Tlalixtac lies 5.4 miles (8.7 km) east of Oaxaca city, a short distance north of the main highway to Tlacolula and Mitla. A number of good bike rides pass through this little town. This particular outing originates at the town square and proceeds on dirt roads and rocky singletrack up into a nearby mountain valley that provides water and firewood to the inhabitants of Tlalixtac. The road exists to service the four dams constructed in the lower part of the valley. Beyond the dams the path gradually diminishes until it is a narrow track through the forest — sometimes smooth and flowing; at other times studded with rocks. A skilled biker can ride the whole thing; average riders will likely have to hike-a-bike from time to time. There are fifteen creek crossings between the dams and the cascada at the far end of the valley (that makes 30 crossings out & back), but many are dry or have little water, depending on the time of year. There are no grand vistas to lure you up this trail, but you will surely enjoy the shady, winding path into the hills. This is also an excellent hiking trail, so feel free to ditch your bike and continue on foot if the going gets too intimidating for two-wheeled travel.

The distance from the Tlalixtac town center to the cascada is 13.7 miles (22.0 km) round trip, with an elevation gain and loss of 1283 feet (391 meters). If you choose to ride from the Zócalo in central Oaxaca (as shown on the second map below), you will accumulate a total of 24.5 miles (39.4 km) on the round trip, and the elevation gain & loss will amount to 2602 feet (793 meters).  Either option is a pleasant ride.

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Guacamayas to La Cumbre

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Not all the old logging roads in the mountains around Oaxaca city go from point A to point B (many dead end someplace in the forest). Some, however, make for a fine ride that will actually take you someplace. Such a road is the one that winds from Arroyo Guacamayas to La Cumbre Ixtepeji. Like most logging roads, this one follows the contour of the land, winding through the hills, alternately rising over ridges and dropping through valleys at a moderate grade. No special bike handling skills are required for this outing, but the rider should be in good condition, as the way is long, the overall elevation gain and loss is significant, and the road runs at a fairly high altitude. The out & back trip will carry you 31.5 miles (50.7 km), with an elevation gain & loss of 5114 feet (1559 meters). Nice!

This ride is listed as an out & back adventure – and that is how it is shown on the map and elevation chart below. As such, it can be started at either end. It is also possible to start the ride in Oaxaca, making either a greatly extended out & back or a truly spectacular loop ride. The out & back from Oaxaca to Guacamayas and on to La Cumbre and back will clock in at 74 miles (119 km). Whoa! That’s serious mileage, and will take even a strong biker all day, so start early!

Prefer to do a loop ride instead? Then be sure to ride clockwise (Oaxaca > Guacamayas > La Cumbre > Oaxaca), as the ride down from La Cumbre to town will be on Highway 175  –  a well-paved but narrow and very twisty (not to mention quite busy) main road with absolutely no shoulders. Going downhill, you’ll be able to match the speed of motor vehicles, which is a much better option than trying to ride uphill, forcing drivers to dodge around you, often on blind corners! The loop will put 57 miles (91.7 km) on your odometer, which – together with the elevation gain of about 6800 feet (2062 meters) – should give your legs a considerable workout.

 

 

Mountains, MTBing, Photos, Racing

Mountain Bike Race At La Cumbre Ixtepeji

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The World Wildlife Fund manages an extensive forest preserve in the mountains just north of Oaxaca city, which includes miles of old logging roads and a ecotourism camp. The camp is the site of this race. The course uses some of these logging roads, but the exciting part is the singletrack “La Cabeza de Vaca” trail that squiggles through the forest on a narrow, loose tread – alternately climbing and then dropping among the trees. The circuit covers 4.8 miles (7.72 km), making it the longest of the race venues. The elevation gain and loss going around the loop amounts to 1153 feet (351 meters). There are few technical challenges on the course, but the singletrack is very narrow, the ground is quite loose and the deep covering of pine needles can be very slippery – so riders need to be alert! The last part of the race loop is a screamer downhill on the main access road leading back to the camp.

GPS, Mountains, MTBing, Photos

Capulálpam Ride

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The small village of Guelatao, situated 52 kilometers from Oaxaca on Highway 175, is famous as the birthplace of Benito Juarez, likely the most famous (and possibly the only honest) president in Mexico’s checkered history as an independent nation. Two nearby towns are also somewhat famous and deserving of a visit:  Ixtlan de Juarez and Capulálpam. The latter of these has the sort of ecotourism park common among villages in the Sierra Norte, all of which support mountain biking. One of the trails in the area – which consists almost entirely of a very pleasant logging road through the forest – runs 4.4 miles from the park until it deadends at the end of a short singletrack at a small water control dam. The ride out and back is a moderate endeavor, suitable for any rider of decent ability. Even at a leisurely pace the ride can be accomplished in three hours. The route shown in satellite view below includes a dogleg to a scenic point overlooking Capulálpam. As an added bonus, bikers can sightsee in Capulálpam, dine in Ixtlan and visit the memorial and museum to Benito Juarez in Gelatao – all of which make for a fine day’s outing. (The museum is supposed to be open and free Tuesday thru Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm.  If it is closed, a key can be obtained at the municipal building next door.)